Tamil National Alliance has ruled out boycott of forthcoming Presidential and parliamentary elections. It is also not in favor of alliances either. The party is in talks with other Tamil parties from PLOTE to TULF, EPRLF(Sritharan) and TMVP.
“We will not have any alliance. TNA may get enlarged with the induction of few more Tamil parties’, one of the TNA leader Parliamentarian N Srikantha told Asian Tribune in a freewheeling interview.
According to him, ‘PLOTE is positively responding to our overtures. Very soon we will be able to have something concrete’.
He, Sri Kantha said he would welcome Tamil speaking Muslim parties ‘who are willing to join hands with us’. He is not averse to accepting in the TNA fold T. Sivanesathurai alias Pillaiyan, the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province ‘if he comes forward for an alliance’ but not Karuna.
While on the question of Presidential election, TNA leader preferred to adopt ‘wait and watch’ policy to see the outcome of talks amongst the opposition parties.
He didn’t sound enthusiastic about Gen Fonseka as the common candidate
of the opposition.
Noting that Fonseka is still the General and that he has not entered political scene, Sri Kantha remarked ‘Well, our memories are not short. Our memories are very fresh in regards to each and everything that has happened in this country since we gained independence vis- a-vis the plight of the Tamil speaking people’.
He went on to add: ‘We will wait and see because I think it is not appropriate for me to give even an indication in regards to our making a decision. When the time comes to take a decision, we will take the decision, a considered decision; I think it will be the right
decision….’
Asked whether the TNA was thinking of fielding a common Tamil candidate in the Prez election, Sri Kantha replied: ‘So far no but I won’t rule out the possibility all together at this juncture’.
Excerpts of the interview:
Asian Tribune: You may be aware there is going to be a presidential and parliamentary election soon. I am told that President Rajapaksa would be making an announcement on the 15th at the National Convention of Sri Lanka Freedom Party at Ketavarama stadium. It appears they will be having the presidential election first.
N.Sriskantha M.P.: Yes, that is true, I also heard so.
Asian Tribune: What is TNA stand? Do you (TNA) have any preference for a particular candidate? Will you enter into any electoral tie-ups?
N.Sriskantha M.P.: Oh! It is too early to talk for us in the TNA to talk about our preference. But then with the election announcement expected very soon as you have rightly said with regards to the presidential election, I think I can only say ‘We are with an open mind’.
We have number of options; the options are limited in a sense; the fact a few options are available to us. We have to wait and see who the major contenders are. I think President Rajapaksa will be seeking the re election… there is no doubt about that…otherwise he won’t be holding the election two years ahead of the due date. On the other hand there is a good possibility of a common candidate being fielded by the newly formed United National Front or Alliance, or whatever we may call the opposition group led by United National Party (UNP).
Asian Tribune: United National Front, I think.
N.Sriskantha M.P.: In conjunction with the JVP.
Asian Tribune: JVP has not yet joined the UNF
N.Sriskantha M.P.: Yes, that is true, but I understand that parleys have been going on between the UNF partners and JVP during the last several days. Whatever the JVP is going to back the common candidate or not, the UNF candidate will be the main challenger of Rajapaksa. We have to wait and see as to who is going to be that candidate.
Asian Tribune: You are not thinking of fielding a common Tamil candidate?
N.Sriskantha M.P.: So far no but I won’t rule out the possibility all together at this juncture. We will wait and see who are the main contenders, that is one issue. The second issue is that we have to give serious thought to the question of our taking a position in this election.
We have to take a particular position there is no doubt. We can’t be evasive. In regards to that position we have few options; we may decide to support this candidate or that candidate of the main party and the other of the President. We are not sure at the moment as to which way JVP is going. They may field their own candidate. We don’t know; then that person cannot be the main contender.
We have to take a position between the two main contenders that is, the president and his main opponent. Second, as you rightly suggested leaving theses people aside whether it is advisable to field a candidate on our own behalf or to leave the option open to our people – ask them to decide and vote. But I think that is not a correct position; we have to guide our people. We cannot simply leave the decision to the voters………. They are the people to decide, of course, but we have got to guide them in taking a position.
Candidate General Fonseka ….. Raw Memories
Asian Tribune: If UNF fields former army commander Sarath Fonseka, will you support him?
N.Sriskantha M.P.: Support whom?
Asian Tribune: If the UNF fields the former army commander as the common candidate of the opposition, will you be in a comfortable position to support him?
N.Sriskantha M.P.: First of all, whether we will be in a comfortable or uncomfortable position is not an issue. In the first place you know the question is whether we are going to support Sarath Fonseka if he is going to be the candidate on behalf of the main opposition. I will put it that way.
It is a very interesting question. I can only say this much on my own behalf, if the candidate is going to be someone other than General Sarath Fonseka that scenario will be, at least to some extent, different from if Sarath Fonseka is in the fray. I hope you understand. At least to some extent it will be a different scenario would be different in many aspects, even if there are many fundamental differences.
Asian Tribune: If the General becomes a common opposition candidate in the presidential election…?
N.Sriskantha M.P.: Well, our memories are not short. Our memories are very fresh in regards to each and everything that has happened in this country since we gained independence vis- a-vis the plight of the Tamil speaking people. We will wait and see because I think it is not appropriate for me to give even an indication in regards to our making a decision; first we have to give serious thought to this issue and then we will make the right decision. But you know it is not fair to say anything on the army commander…he has not said anything on entering election.
Asian Tribune: what about his comments about Tamils ….some are really highly inflammatory remarks about Tamils…. There are reports that he was responsible for rounding up Tamils who were living in Colombo and packing them off to Vavuniya…. Allegations of tortures and killings of the Tamils under his command.
N.Sriskantha M.P.: As I said, our memories are not short. When the time comes to take a decision, we will take the decision, a considered decision; I think it will be the right decision….
No Poll Boycott
Asian Tribune: TNA boycotted the election in 2005. Any such plan now also if you think situation warrants a boycott.
N.Sriskantha M.P.: No. there will be no boycott. We will not boycott. I can assure you that much. That is the only thing I can state now with utmost certainty that we will take a position on the presidential candidates.
Asian Tribune: What will be your stand on parliamentary election? Will you go solo? Will the TNA enter into any electoral alliances…?
N.Sriskantha M.P.: No alliances. We will not have any alliance. TNA may get enlarged with the induction of few more Tamil parties. In fact, I am happy to say that the PLOTE is positively responding to our overtures. I talked to Sidharthan, a couple of weeks ago….. He responded positively. I think he is a sensible politician to work with.
Asian Tribune: Yes, his father, late V. Dharmalingham was my good friend.
N.Sriskantha M.P.: Yes, my personal assessment is that he is a good man. Personal perceptions apart, I think there is a need and necessity to broaden the TNA… If some other Tamil parties are willing to come and join then we have got to accept them.
Frankly, we are keen on enlarging the TNA …. PLOTE, TULF’s Anandasangaree, and then Pathmanpha’s EPRL group led by Sridharan…..Very soon we will be able to have something concrete ( on boad basing TNA).
I will personally will be too happy to have the TNA enlarged ….to see the TNA enlarged incorporating or rather including each and every Tamil party…..for this matter even Tamil speaking Muslim parties who are willing to join hands with us.
Pillaiyan - Welcome
Asian Tribune: I want to ask you one more question. Will you also accept
T. Sivanesathurai alias Pillaiyan, the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province if he also comes forward for an alliance with you? He is leader of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal.
N.Sriskantha M.P.: Well, that means TMVP severing its alliance with the UPFA and joining us? Is that correct?
Asian Tribune: Hypothetically, we may say, yes.
N.Sriskantha M.P.: I also will hypothetically say yes.
Asian Tribune: If they come forward?
N.Sriskantha M.P.: Yes, if they come forward. I am telling my personal view; we have not discussed this issue though it has cropped up once or twice in relation to other Tamil parties.
Asian Tribune: There is a factional tussle going on between Karuna and Pillaiyan.
N.Sriskantha M.P.: Karuna is out of question, he is with the SLFP. We have nothing to do with him. Pillaiyan and TMVP is a different proposition.
TNA and Youths
Asian Tribune: Are you promoting any new people as candidates?
N.Sriskantha M.P.: I think, you know, in any election it is nothing but natural for any party or any political formation to bring in new faces. In the case of TNA I think there is a pressing need to infuse some new blood, I mean, young blood. You see, due to the military conflict that has been raging on since 1983, Tamil professionals are reluctant to enter political main stream… they are really on the sidelines.
Now, it is a different atmosphere all together and even in the last local body election in Jaffna we were able to field at least 2 or 3 candidates who are totally new to politics but very young and active and some are rather educationally qualified people. Therefore, that is a good sign we will work on that and we have to bring in younger people.
You know Mr.Rajasingham, when S.J.V. Chelvanayagam, the late leader of Federal Party faced the first general election in 1952, he fielded A. Amirthalingham, who was then barely 24years and he just sat for his law college final exams. Amirthalingham narrowly lost coming third after
the sitting member Kanagaratnam. Veerasingham won for the first time in that election.
In 1956, I know, as an expert in politics you know very well, still, I want to state this. Chelvanayagam fielded not one but four new candidates who were young at that time. About Amirthalingham you know. Then there was S. Rajathurai. He was 28. V.Navarthanam was 26. K.P Rathanam was 25; even Mr. Mustafa who won the Pottuvil electorate in the East was in his early 30s.
The scene has radically changed in recent times. The candidates who had been contesting in the last two general elections, except for a few are beyond 40 years and generally in the mid 40s and some in their 50s and in their 60s.
So this should change…I would like to say that experienced politicians should retire from parliamentary electoral politics. We need experience as well as freshness. So it should be a right mix in regards to age and different walks of life…We have to look for young people at least this time.
We have Gajendrakumar who is in his early 30s.When he contested in 2001, he was barely 26. I am talking about Gajendrakumar.
Asian Tribune: Ponampalam’s son?
N.Sriskantha M.P.: Yes, G.G. Kumar Ponampallam’s son or G.G’s grandson. So we need few young men and women like him who are in their 30s like Gajendrakumar. We need one or two candidates in the mid 20s or late 20s and at least a few in their 30s and in 40s.
Asian Tribune: When I was in Dawasa group of newspapers, we had an Editorial Managing Director and he was D.B.Dhanapala, a veteran journalist of repute.
N.Sriskantha M.P.: I know him very well.
Asian Tribune: G.G. Ponampallam used to call Dhanapala and tell him to send Rajasingham for an interview or to make the statement. G.G. the senior, he is from our village from Allvai. I used to go to him and take down his statement as he dictated... When I was about to leave he used to ask me to wait and join him in lunch. He used to treat me for a sumptuous lunch. He never used to give lunch to anyone you know that. But he always treated me with lunch.
N.Sriskantha M.P.: I know that he was rather said to be a different sort.
Asian Tribune: I have seen many of his party leaders waiting outside to talk with him but he used to ignore them and spend time with me. Those days I used to see Kumar Ponampallam as young boy and he always called me “Annai, annai, how are you and all those things”. I still remember
those days.
N.Sriskantha M.P.: Then were you in your early 30s?
Asian Tribune: No, then I was in my early 20s.
Tie Up With UPFA?
Asian Tribune: Ok. Let me ask you about poll alliances. In case there was an approach by the government party UPFA for a coalition arrangement?
N.Sriskantha M.P.: Coalition is out. Totally out.
Asian Tribune: Electoral arrangement?
N.Sriskantha M.P.: No…no…not with anybody… neither with the ruling front or with the main opposition or with JVP. We can only have any relationship only with Tamil and Muslims parties and that is only acceptable to us.
Asian Tribune: Are you trying to contest as Illankai Tamil Arrasu political party or going to register TNA as a political party?
N.Sriskantha M.P.: Yes, there is a strong move to have TNA registered with a well defined constitution. We have to wait and see how the situation evolves, develops. We are keen but let us see.
Sivajilingham MP and Adaikalanathan MP Are Back
Asian Tribune: What about Sivajilingham and Adaikalanathan coming back to Sri Lanka? What happened to them?
N.Sriskantha M.P.: Well Sivajilingham is not facing any problem. But Adaikalanathan was asked to come over to the Terrorist Investigation Division (TDI) and was questioned and his statements were recorded in the 5th and the 6th of November.
Asian Tribune: What were the charges against him?
N.Sriskantha M.P.: Since it is an ongoing investigation, I don’t want to comment on it but as his lawyer, I can say that he has been questioned on a number of matters. That could be covered either under the normal law or either under the emergency regulations. Adaikalanathan has vehemently denied all the allegations. Because he is not answerable for what others did.
Maybe someone is a friend of mine, employee or member of the party. So under the law he is answerable to what he does. How can you me to answer a functionary of the political party namely the TELO, member of a TNA either an ordinary member of the party or supporter have done? Violating the law according to the investigator?
Asian Tribune: Sivajilingham has no problem?
N.Sriskantha M.P.: So far no problem. I hope that it will continue.
Asian Tribune: What is the point of having him as a member representing Point Pedro when he spends all his time in India?
N.Sriskantha M.P.: He had a problem, try to understand that there was a bit of indiscretion in his public pronouncement that led to serious concern in our own quarters in regards to the advisability of he returning to Sri Lanka during the last several months ….some concern about his security when the war was going on. Misunderstanding is rather a very difficult proposition.
Now we are happy he has returned on his own and is active in parliament and in TNA also. So therefore, we have to understand his problem.
I am not trying to justify certain statement attributed to him. It is also my firm view that he should have been very cautious in making public pronouncement on certain sensitive and vital issues. Because it is our political position that the political solutions must be found within the united country to the national conflict or national solution, I think every TNA member is duty bound to act accordingly.
If anyone of our MPs or Front liners, regardless of their political position, find it difficult to go with the party line, then they should give up their position in the party. In future we will stick to this stand very strictly.
World Classical Tamil Conference
Asian Tribune: Any invitation to TNA to attend World Classical Tamil Conference in Coimbatore?
N.Sriskantha M.P.: So far no invitation. We have more pressing problems at home. We will leave such matters like WCTC to the academics and others who are best suited to deal with them, since we have so many other problems in our hand. Our priorities are different.
Asian Tribune: You are not endorsing the conference?
N.Sriskantha M.P.: No, I don’t see any politics on that. It is purely an academic conference so let us view that on that basis. There is no question of endorsing or rejecting it. That question does not arise. Will never arise.
IDPS And The TNA
Asian Tribune: Have you met the IDPs who are in the camps or welfare centeres in Vanni?
N.Sriskantha M.P.: Well, so far we were unable to do that because we were not permitted. Basil Rajapakse (Chairman of the Northern Task Force for Resettlement, Development and Security in the Northern Province and Senior Adviser to the President) has told some of the TNA members, when we had a casual meeting with him, that we can visit the IDP welfare centres. I think soon we will visit. He also wanted us to visit the demining areas.
Asian Tribune: What about looking after the welfare of resettled people?
N.Sriskantha M.P.: We would like to see the people who are resettled. So we will have a firsthand knowledge of what is happening. I think that is something that is seriously considered. We would definitely visit the IDP welfare centres and the areas where resettlement is going on and also where demining is going on.
Asian Tribune: Is your party making any arrangement to provide houses for these settlers?
N.Sriskantha M.P.: There are some members of the Tamil diaspora who have been in touch with the TNA to float a fund for the benefit of the IDPs who are being resettled.
We have got to have an organizational structure so that whoever wants to help the IDPs and those who are being resettled can go through a reliable active organizations.
Asian Tribune: Any time frame….
N.Sriskantha M.P.: Time frame! Well, you see, we have to do this fast. It is a pressing need. Verbal sobs won’t do.
- Asian Tribune -
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